Information recording medium, information recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method, computer program for controlling record or reproduction, and data structure including control signal

Abstract

An entire stream containing a plurality of partial streams each consisting of content information is multiple-recorded on packet basis on an information recording medium. The information recording medium includes a file for storing object data consisting of a plurality of packets each containing a content information piece and further includes a file for storing information defining a reproduction sequence of object data and information indicating discontinuity of continuous numbers caused by absence of a packet during edition of continuous numbers of a plurality of packets corresponding to the recording order during multiple recording.

1. A computer readable storage medium on which content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising:
 an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; 
 a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and 
 an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number. 
 
   
   
     2. The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuity information includes: point information for indicating a point at which the discontinuous condition is generated; and offset information for indicating the number of the packet lacked at the point. 
   
   
     3. The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the object data is constructed by multiplexing an entire stream including a plurality of portion streams, each of which comprises a series of the content information, by the unit of packet, and 
 said object information file stores, as another reproduction control information for controlling the reproduction of said object data file, correspondence definition information which defines a correspondence relationship between the plurality of packets which are multiplexed and the plurality of portion streams. 
 
   
   
     4. The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the correspondence definition information has address information, which includes at least one portion of the serial number associated with the packets constructing each portion stream and a display start time point corresponding thereto, for each of the plurality of portion streams. 
   
   
     5. The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 4 , wherein if the content information is video information based on a MPEG 2 (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2) standard, the address information includes the serial number of the packets associated with an i picture and a display start time point corresponding thereto. 
   
   
     6. The computer readable storage medium according to  claim 3 , wherein the correspondence definition information further has table information for indicating a packet identification number which is given uniquely between the plurality of packets multiplexed at the same time point, for each of the portion streams. 
   
   
     7. An information recording apparatus for multiplexing and recording content information constructing a series of contents onto an information recording medium by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit,
 said information recording apparatus comprising: 
 a first recording device for recording an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; 
 a second recording device for recording a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and 
 a third recording device for recording an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number. 
 
   
   
     8. An information recording method of multiplexing and recording content information constructing a series of contents onto an information recording medium by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit,
 said information recording method comprising: 
 a first recording process of recording an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; 
 a second recording process of recording a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and 
 a third recording process of recording an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number. 
 
   
   
     9. An information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded content information from an information recording medium on which the content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising: an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number,
 said information reproducing apparatus comprising: 
 a reading device for physically reading information from said information recording medium; and 
 a reproducing device for reproducing the object data included in the information read by said reading device on the basis of the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by said reading device. 
 
   
   
     10. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein upon accessing arbitrary packet, said reproducing device accesses the arbitrary packet by specifying an address of the arbitrary packet on the basis of the discontinuity information. 
   
   
     11. The information reproducing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said reproducing device specifies an address of an arbitrary packet on the basis of the discontinuity information and maintains it in a memory in advance, and accesses the arbitrary packet on the basis of the address maintained in the memory. 
   
   
     12. An information reproducing method of reproducing recorded content information from an information recording medium on which the content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising: an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number,
 said information reproducing method comprising: 
 a reading process of physically reading information from said information recording medium; and 
 a reproducing process of reproducing the object data included in the information read by said reading process on the basis of the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by said reading process. 
 
   
   
     13. An information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording content information onto and reproducing the recorded content information from an information recording medium on which the content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising: an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number,
 said information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: 
 a first recording device for recording the object data file; 
 a second recording device for recording the reproduction sequence information file; 
 a third recording device for recording the object information file; 
 a reading device for physically reading information from said information recording medium; and 
 a reproducing device for reproducing the object data included in the information read by said reading device on the basis of the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by said reading device. 
 
   
   
     14. The information recording and reproducing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein upon accessing arbitrary packet, said reproducing device accesses the arbitrary packet by specifying an address of the arbitrary packet on the basis of the discontinuity information. 
   
   
     15. The information recording and reproducing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said reproducing device specifies an address of an arbitrary packet on the basis of the discontinuity information and maintains it in a memory in advance, and accesses the arbitrary packet on the basis of the address maintained in the memory. 
   
   
     16. The information recording and reproducing apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising: an editing device for controlling said third recording device to additionally record the discontinuity information if the lack of the packet is generated upon editing. 
   
   
     17. An information recording and reproducing method of recording content information onto and reproducing the recorded content information from an information recording medium on which the content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising: an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number,
 said information recording and reproducing method comprising: 
 a first recording process of recording the object data file; 
 a second recording process of recording the reproduction sequence information file; 
 a third recording process of recording the object information file; 
 a reading process of physically reading information from said information recording medium; and 
 a reproducing process of reproducing the object data included in the information read by said reading process on the basis of the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by said reading process. 
 
   
   
     18. A computer program recorded on a computer readable storage medium for controlling record and for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to make the computer function as at least one portion of a first recording device, a second recording device, and a third recording device,
 the computer being provided in an information recording apparatus for multiplexing and recording content information constructing a series of contents onto an information recording medium by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, 
 said information recording apparatus comprising: 
 said first recording device for recording an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; 
 said second recording device for recording a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and 
 said third recording device for recording an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number. 
 
   
   
     19. A computer program recorded on a computer readable storage medium for controlling reproduction and for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to make the computer function as at least one portion of a reproducing device,
 the computer being provided in an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing recorded content information from an information recording medium on which the content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising: an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number, 
 said information reproducing apparatus comprising: 
 a reading device for physically reading information from said information recording medium; and 
 said reproducing device for reproducing the object data included in the information read by said reading device on the basis of the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by said reading device. 
 
   
   
     20. A computer program recorded on a computer readable storage medium for controlling record and reproduction and for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer to make the computer function as at least one portion of a first recording device, a second recording device, a third recording device, and a reproducing device,
 the computer being provided in an information recording and reproducing apparatus for recording content information onto and reproducing the recorded content information from an information recording medium on which the content information constructing a series of contents is multiplexed-and-recorded by a unit of packet, which is a physically accessible unit, comprising: an object data file, which is a logically accessible unit, for storing object data which comprises a plurality of packets, each storing therein a piece of the content information; a reproduction sequence information file for storing reproduction sequence information which defines a reproduction sequence of the object data stored in said object data file; and an object information file for storing, as reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of said object data file, discontinuity information for indicating a discontinuous condition of a serial number of the plurality of packets corresponding to a recording order upon multiplexing-and-recording, the discontinuous condition being generated by a lack of the packet upon editing after the multiplexing-and-recording, with respect to the serial number, 
 said information recording and reproducing apparatus comprising: 
 said first recording device for recording the object data file; 
 said second recording device for recording the reproduction sequence information file; 
 said third recording device for recording the object information file; 
 a reading device for physically reading information from said information recording medium; and 
 said reproducing device for reproducing the object data included in the information read by said reading device on the basis of the reproduction control information and the reproduction sequence information included in the information read by said reading device.